The Lost Colony, DM Arnold [ebook reader for laptop TXT] 📗

-- and you certainly did get on the wrong one.”

“I found myself lost and it was after curfew. A novonid family sheltered me.”

“The constables have told me that story. Do you remember names?” Ogan paced more. “Mr Kyhana, if you could name names...”

“I know their names.”

“Then tell me.”

“I refuse.”

“Why?”

“Because their daughter is unregistered. I wouldn't want any harm to come to her.”

“You were staying with unregistered novonids?”

“Just the daughter was unregistered. They will register her -- when they can afford it.”

“And, you expect me to believe this story? The constables have a different theory as to what you were doing.”

“Which is?”

“They are prepared to charge you with solicitation. It's what I suspected all along.”

“Solicitation of what?” Realization dawned in his mind like the Floran sun. “Prostitution? There's no way, Prefect.”

“Solicitation is a very serious crime here, Mr Kyhana. The only way to eliminate prostitution is to eliminate the customers. Those convicted serve long stretches of prison time. I should've known there was a reason you were inquiring about a novonid sex industry...”

“No, Prefect -- that was my own curiosity.”

“...and spy holes in the females' cabins. I hope not ALL Florans show such a prurient interest in sex. Nonetheless...” Ogan stood and faced away from Nyk. “Mr Kyhana -- the corner where you were picked up is one frequented by Green Zone prostitutes and their procurers. You were seen on a security cam handing currency over to a street thug. The one attempting to use you as a human shield was well-known in these parts as a procurer. We have the video...”

“Then, you should also have video of me being threatened by that same street thug holding a sharp instrument. No, Prefect. I am not interested in Varadan prostitutes -- of either color.”

Ogan shook his head. “I wish I could believe you.”

“Prefect -- why would any man in his right mind want to engage in random, anonymous, impersonal sex with a novonid when he has an eager and willing partner ... who looks like Andra Baxa?”

Ogan regarded him through narrowed eyes; then he smirked. “I'll give you benefit of the doubt ... strictly to maintain a cordial, interplanetary relationship, mind you.” He touched the intercom. “He wasn't soliciting. He was being mugged. I'll vouch for him.”

The Prefect led Nyk to his car and gave the driver the address of the guest house. “In the future, Mr Kyhana -- please refrain from these nocturnal walkabouts.”

“Believe me, Prefect -- I have learned my lesson.”

“I should hope so.”

“I hope my absence didn't inconvenience the negotiations.”

“We called a recess. It's fortunate you surfaced today, so we can resume them tomorrow. Otherwise, I don't know what we would've told the envoy.”

“You didn't tell Tomyka I was missing?”

Ogan looked down his nose at Nyk. “Your assistant insisted we contrive a likely explanation for your absence. It wasn't an action I was comfortable doing, but I agreed ... this time.”

“There won't be another time, Prefect. I promise.”

“Nyk -- what were you doing?” Andra asked him. “Why did you take all our scrip?”

“Are YOU going to interrogate me, too?”

“Don't you think I deserve an explanation? I was so worried when you didn't return overnight. Ogan called and said you were arrested for solicitation. He told me he suspected you had contracted a case of Green Fever.”

“What is Green Fever?”

“You know what it is.”

Nyk nodded. “I think I can figure it out. Ogan accused me of it to my face. No, Andra. I was not patronizing any novonid prostitutes.”

“Then, where were you all day?” She looked at him. “What did you get all over you? Mud?”

“No -- novonid blood and brains.”

Andra's jaw dropped. “You had better tell me the whole story.”

“Last night I kept thinking of Laida. I couldn't concentrate on my work, so I hired a livery and went over to Ramina's to see if she knew anything.”

“Does she?”

He shook his head. “No. When I was done there, all the liveries in that sector had been called off the streets, so I decided to take a streetcar home -- like we did the other night. While I was on the bus I saw a girl who I thought was she. I tried to follow her. She ran from me, tripped and fell. I caught up with her...”

“And, it wasn't Laida.”

“Right. She was unregistered. We were on the perimeter of some novonid ghetto the city created for them. They patrol this perimeter with remotely controlled cameras and guns. She had sprained her ankle and couldn't walk. I knew what her fate would be if she fell into the hands of the authorities, so I helped her to her home.”

“Her home?”

“The city has turned a sector over to the novonids -- a sector of old, decaying buildings. They make their homes there, without power or running water. They do what comes naturally.”

“Which is?”

A tear ran down his face. “They form families. They love and support each other. They find joy in the simplest things. By the time we reached her home, it was past curfew. Her family offered me what hospitality they could. I gave them all our scrip, save one card for car fare here.

“This morning, her parents went to find food for me. Apparently, novonids purchasing pomma bread with freshly-minted scrip is considered a suspicious activity. They spent the day being interrogated. By the time they got home, it was night again. Grott -- he's the stepfather -- led me through a labyrinth of tunnels back outside the perimeter.

“I was waiting for the bus when I got mugged by a gang of novonid street thugs. One of their pylon cameras caught it. They shot the guy who was attacking me, and they took me into custody.”

“From the sound of it, you have had a busy day.”

“Ogan told me you gave some excuse to Tomyka for my ... indisposal.”

“Yes -- I told him to tell her you had over-imbibed in pomma beer...”

“And that I had a hangover. Andra -- couldn't you come up with a better...”

“It was a far sight better than Ogan's theory to where you were.”

“I suppose it was... I convinced Ogan I had no carnal interest in novonids. The authorities released me on his voucher.”

“Nykkyo -- we were so worried. How could you have done something like this?”

“It's what Seymor says -- I let my emotional involvement in Laida cloud my common sense.”

“You could've told me where you were going -- left a note or something. We had no idea where to start looking. I was so worried.”

“I fucked up -- plain and simple.”

“Nyk -- it could've cost you your life!”

“I know -- I know...” He looked up at her. “Suki used to get mad at me like this...” Andra shook her head. “It was worth it. My attitude was in a serious need of adjustment, and I got it adjusted. The novonid issue is more complex than the Varadans want us to believe -- far more complex. I wish you could've seen it, Andra.”

“No doubt there are many ways novonids are being exploited. This is just a foretaste of what's in store if novonids are the commodity Varada intends to export...”

“That's another thing. The novonids indeed believe THEY're the reason Floran wants to normalize relations with Varada. It's a rumor I've heard from several sources.” He shook his head. “All this from looking for information on Laida. I'm even more worried for her, now.”

“What did Ramina say?”

“Ramina doesn't believe she was detained because of us. Laida did nothing improper -- even that visit to her breeding place was in no way actionable.”

“Do you believe that?”

“I don't know what to believe. The reality of this society's treatment of novonids is so different from the picture Ogan painted. The whole thing makes me sick.” He paced around the apartment. “Ramina suspects foul play.”

“I think we all agree on that,” Andra replied. “Why doesn't she go to the authorities?”

“The authorities would be no help.”

“But -- what motive?

“I don't know. My mind runs the gamut from sexual assault to a hate crime...”

“Hate crime?”

“You should hear the way the constables talk about them ... call them greenies. I believe there is a segment of this population capable of hate crimes against novonids...” He paced more. “Or, was it payback for befriending us? No doubt there are novonids who hate whites just as much.”

“Don't abuse yourself, Nyk. Does Ramina think it's our fault?”

“No...”

“These sorts of things happen -- in ANY society. You can't blame yourself.”

“... or maybe she was just saying that so I'll feel better.”

“Nyk -- please come to bed. It's late and we need to be at Ogan's office first thing tomorrow.”

He undressed and climbed into bed beside her. She snuggled against him, reached across and drew herself tighter against him. He kissed her forehead. “So,” she asked, “how DID you convince Ogan you weren't soliciting?”

“It was easy. I asked him what man in his right mind would want to patronize a novonid whore when he had a willing and eager ax'amfin.”

She gasped. “NYK! You didn't!”

“It worked. It was more of a joke...”

“You DON'T joke about that!” She pulled from him. “Now, I'll have to sit in on those sessions, looking at Ogan's smug face -- knowing he thinks the only reason I'm here is as YOUR plaything!”

“Andra -- you're an indispensable part of this team.”

“But Ogan doesn't know that! Get out of this bed! You can sleep on the sofa for that remark.” Andra planted her foot in the small of his back and pushed him onto the floor.

“Andra! I was joking!” She pulled the covers to her chin and rolled with her back to him. “Andra... Andra, I'm sorry...”

He sighed, shook his head, walked into the living room and sat at the media terminal.

Nyk heard running water switch off and Andra stepping from the shower. She approached him from behind. “Nyk -- I'm sorry I kicked you out of bed last night.”

“You were right to. I deserved it. Andra, I'm very sorry. Please forgive me.”

She drew in a breath and exhaled it loudly. “I forgive you. I think this place is getting to us. All I want to do is go home.”

“I think I have the answer to that.”

“Did you sleep at all?”

“No -- I spent the whole night writing.” He handed her his handheld.

She began scrolling through the document. Her jaw dropped.

“It's a report addressed to Kronta, but it's intended for the Secretary of Colonial Affairs.”

“I see what it is...” Her eyes began to brim. “Oh, Nyk! Do you really feel this way?”

“With all my heart.”

“I was so worried you didn't... Oh, Nyk -- I was so afraid Ogan was right!”

“How could you be, Andra? You KNOW me. After all the two of us have been through together, how could you think...”

“The remarks you made... 'The novonids didn't bother you ... a reasonable solution ... one YOU might've come up with' ... the way you were coming on to Laida...”

“Oh, no Andra. I was willing to take Ogan's remarks at face value. Now that I've seen them with my own eyes...” Nyk watched her reaction as she read his report. “I understand, Andra -- and, I am so sorry.” He opened his arms to her, embraced her and caressed her hair. “An artificially-created person ... crafted to be recognizable on sight ... specially trained and conditioned ... regarded as a possession, not as a peer... You know I hate the genetic counselors and the finishing schools -- the institutions that created you. You know how happy I am you escaped that system.”

She sniffed. “I know. It's what I couldn't reconcile. How couldn't you see?”

“The fact that good can come from an institution doesn't excuse the institution itself. It must be moral, standing on its own. Ax'amfinen and novonids are two faces of the same evil. I don't know how I was so blind.”

“I saw,” she replied. “I saw from the first. I know how to read people, Nyk. I saw the oppression on their faces. The young man in Ogan's office, the street workers ... even Laida. You can read the same thing in every one of the faces in the finishing schools. Why couldn't you see it? It is such a short step from an ax'amfin assignment to enslavement.”

“Why indeed... Your insight in such was the very reason I insisted you come along -- and I ignored it.”

“That night Laida took us to her home. Didn't you see it? She began to regard us as peers -- as friends -- instead of masters. Didn't you see how she blossomed?”

“I see it now. Destiny sent Laida to us to open our eyes.”

“Will you stop it with your Destiny nonsense? Maybe YOUR eyes needed opening.”

“They are uncovered, now. I put it all in this report.”

“Oh, Nyk...” She peppered his face with kisses. “Will you really send this to Kronta?”

“It is